Micheál Martin

That issue will be addressed in that Estimates process and in the budget. SUSI grants and what we can do there will be addressed. Postgraduate supports will be addressed. Additional places in third level, which people are seeking in the areas of therapies, medicine, nursing and so on, all involve expense.

In fairness, I think the students of Northern Ireland would appreciate a bit of clarity from Sinn Féin as to how their fees still remain at over €5,000 in Northern Ireland, and the Deputy pontificates and says this Government is not providing clarity.

It is a Sinn Féin Minister for Finance, and they have the biggest allocation from Westminster in a long time, but they reduce everything to simplicity. We have a full range that we are going to provide-----

-----and we will continue to provide supports to students-----

-----and we will also continue to prioritise participation in education because it is a great gateway for people to progress in life.

I appreciate the Deputy's questions. We are under no illusions about the impact of the cost of living on families and people. The reality is there was an excessive inflationary spiral coming out of Covid and as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the consequential increase in energy prices. That did impact and that is why there were exceptional once-off cost-of-living packages in addit…

The Deputy may be aware that the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, has met with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, and has asked it to conduct an analysis of the Irish grocery retail sector, with a view to determine the existence of excessive pricing or not in an evidence-based way. We also have the equivalent of the agricultural ombudsman in terms of food prices. We are loo…

Let me make one comment, which is probably an observation on the political world we are in today: all the parties on the left favour universality in everything in terms of provision and have not argued once today for targeting or prioritising those left furthest behind.

It has been very interesting that in the past ten days, including today, their entire focus has been on giving everybody everything. Whatever scheme is brought in-----

Through the Chair, I did not interrupt anybody. It is a case of giving everybody everything. In the last budget, we took significant steps with the child support payments for both under-12s and over-12s.

Sorry, Deputy Hearne is not leader yet.

In the last budget, I itemised the issues. The free schoolbooks scheme is now part of the budget and of the base, which is very important. It is not once off or anything like that. It is the same with free transport for those aged between five and eight and the hot school meals programme. We did not extend VAT either. I have made it clear that in the next budget, for the Government and in the cont…

There is only so much money-----

We could spend billions of euro but the challenge really is the question of whether those opposite have the political guts to target.

Yes, we do have the guts to take on anyone who is engaged in price gouging, absolutely.

I think we need an evidence-based approach.

There is an agency there, the consumer and competition authority-----

The Deputies opposite know that. People come in here and make assertions but we have to do our business in an evidence-based way.

In terms of the Agri-Food Regulator, we established it.

The former Minister for agriculture, Deputy McConalogue, brought that in precisely to get greater transparency in respect of the differentials between what the primary producer earns - the Deputies know the primary producer was a key motivator behind the introduction of that regulator - as well as making sure that the primary producer would get a better share of the entire supply chain in terms of…

The fundamental point is this. We recognise that there are significant high prices, particularly in groceries.

The issue really is in terms of the next budget and the Estimates, how best we use the resources we have to help those who need it the most.

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I know it is very close to his heart and an issue largely upon which he was elected. I appreciate and understand fully where he is coming from. He has raised it on consistent occasions in the House. As he knows, the Minister, Deputy James Browne, met with various stakeholders in Donegal in May of this year, including representatives from the Mica Action Gr…

The Minister, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan and Minister of State, Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran will be meeting with the residents on that issue fairly shortly.

Shortly. Next week. The issue is acknowledged. That meeting will take place next week.